Our Wales Holiday Blog

Our team has a deep love and knowledge of Wales. We love sharing this information with you and what better way to do it in an interesting way than through our Wales Holiday Blog. Here you'll find advice, tips and suggestions as well as what we have been up to in the team - both in the office and out and about. Please feel free to send any suggestions as to what you might like to see on our blog to info@walescottageholidays.co.uk and we will do our best to get blogging!

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Happy Birthday to the Snowdonia National Park

Written by Ginnie James on
Saturday 18thOct 2014

The Snowdonia National Park today celebrates its 63rd birthday! Of course the mountains and landscapes of this breath taking area in North Wales have been around for hundreds of millions of years, but thank goodness for that committee back in 1951 who agreed this was worth conserving. The park has been in the news this past week as it played host to a conference for the outdoor tourism sector.

Snowdonia has so much to offer and it is really good to see the potential of the area being taken seriously and invested in so to create a better and fulfilling experience for those who visit and for those lucky enough to live and work there. Jacky, our North Wales rep, went along and came away feeling even more positive than usual! The National Park covers more than 820 square miles and runs from up by Conwy in the North right the way down to Aberdyfi on the West Coast. Many areas within the park are designated sites of special scientific interest or, like the 37 miles of coastline, special areas of conservation.

This is vitally important for many rare and even unique species of mammal, bird and plant life that make their home here. People are also welcomed here of course and with such a diverse range of terrain and activities you really are spoilt for choice. From the Snowdonia Mountains in the North to the Cadair Idris range in the South there is every kind of mountain you could wish for! Snowdon itself, in the northern area of the park has always been a big draw, and being the highest mountain in Wales (and England) at 3,560ft it offers the most wonderful views from the summit.

There are a number of paths up the mountain to choose from, or of course, and this would be my choice (!), you can take the train. The railway runs spring to autumn, weather permitting, and once up on the heights you can enjoy a cup of tea in Hafod Eryri – the visitors centre perched on the top of the mountain. It’s not all about the mountains though and there are plenty of things to do which are not so weather dependent as climbing.

There is world-class mountain biking, coast path walking and pony trekking to name a few and if you are still looking for even more high adrenaline activities the new Bounce Below (huge trampolines in slate caverns – more on this in the future) keeps you out of the elements. With gardens and castles dotted throughout the landscape, museums and craft centres as well, the Snowdonia National Park is not short on visitor attractions.

You could even indulge in a spot of shopping with delicious local produce to be found in delicatessens and farmers markets and varied craft pieces from pottery to slate to soft welsh woollen rugs – great for Christmas presents!

If Snowdonia sounds like your kind of place do take a look at the great range of properties we have throughout the National Park and the surrounding areas: Snowdonia & Lleyn Peninsula and Anglesey.

Do give us a call and let us know what you want to see or do during your time here and we would be happy to advise you on the best specific location. Go on, challenge us!

Written by
Ginnie James

I am Ginnie & I began working for Wales Cottage Holidays in August 2000. My blogs cover a wide variety of subjects, from Welsh history (I have a bit of a thing for castles) to its modern culture (I also have a bit of a thing for rugby players!)